“Build it and they will drum.” Dedicated to research, study and comparisons of field drums. Our purpose is to collect information about historical U.S. drums (manufacture, preservation, conservancy, repair, market) for use by scholars, collectors and others. Photographs of drums, and anything related, together with informative narratives, are welcome. Interested readers will find archived postings a good resource. Reach us at BlogMaster@FieldDrums.com.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Undated Lyon & Healey “Monarch” snare drum. Skins in mostly good condition, and are original. The snare side has been patched, and is rough/ a little dried out. Leather tug ring sleeves replaced at some point, and the old cord also looks too good to be original. Rawhide snare cords original; one pair pulled through (original) leather retainer. Everything else is too good to restore, with a great museum patina.

I have a drum very similar to this in my collection, recently sympathetically restored by George Kubicek of Yonkers, New York:

Before:

After:

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This info was added April 19, 2011:

I've had another Monarch drum in my collection and it's virtually identical to the "Bell Drum" featured above. Since I have one already, and I've restored it, I will be offering this drum for sale on eBay soon.

Henry Kleber gave piano lessons to Stephen Foster. Kleber's company's label is in the drum. It reads:

from

H. KLEBER & BRO.

DEALER OF

PIANOS & ORGANS

and

GENERAL MUSICAL MERCHANDISE

506 WOOD STREET

PITTSBURGH, P.A.

And this is what it could look like:

A similar drum is featured in this 1910 postcard photo. (See the drum to the far right.)

Inspirational

The drums on these pages were here long before we arrived and, with care, should be around long after we've departed. We have the privilege of taking care of them for a short period. As such, we are self-appointed caretakers of a small slice of our
country's rich heritage. By sharing knowledge and information, we will all be better suited to discharge our responsibilities with skill and good judgment. Ellis R. Mirsky, Blogmaster@FieldDrums.com